"Monsieur le Commissaire de Police with two sergeants have arrived, and demand admittance in the name of the law; what am I to do?" "Show them immediately into the library, and tell them I will be with them in a moment." When Villebois entered the library a little gentleman, faultlessly attired in black, with a pair of gold-rimmed spectacles, walked up to meet him. "I have the honour to address Monsieur le Docteur Villebois, I presume?" said the little man as he presented his card. Villebois took the proffered card which bore the inscription:-- ADOLPHE BIRON, COMMISSAIRE DE POLICE. "Monsieur le docteur," said the little man with a slight bow, "I have come in answer to the telephone message, from which I understand that there has been a fire here, and that it is probably the work of an incendiary." "Pardon, monsieur, who told you that?" "One of the firemen who assisted in extinguishing the flames--am I right in my suspicions?" "Perfectly," replied Villebois, "but that is only a trifle." "Only a trifle?" replied Monsieur Biron, astonished. "Arson is not regarded as a trifling matter by the law." "That is so, but I fear a murder has been committed as well." "Oh! oh!! oh!!!" cried the commissaire in an ascending scale, tapping his two fingers on the table. He remained silent for a few moments, and then he called his two satellites. "You, Georges, go round to the front gate, and you, Raoul, go to the back of the house and see that no one passes out without my permission. "Now, Monsieur Villebois, let us go together and see the victim." They stepped carefully across the wet, slippery floor, and entered the séance room in silence. Monsieur Biron went up to Delapine's body and carefully examined him. "He is quite dead," he remarked; "as to that there can only be one opinion." Then, turning to Villebois, he asked him the names and addresses of all the guests, and entered them in his official memorandum book. "These are all guests of mine," said Villebois, "I will make myself responsible for them." "Good," replied the commissaire. "Let them please retire into the next room, while we go into the matter privately here." Dr. Riche took Monsieur Biron aside in order to acquaint him with the true facts of the case and of his struggle at the door, but the Commissaire of Police interrupted him impatiently. "Pardon, monsieur, but I am on duty, and you will please excuse me if I listen to you later." "Allow me to present my card, monsieur le commissaire. I am Dr. Riche. I was witness of----" "I regret, monsieur le docteur, but I cannot allow you to interfere with me in my investigations." "Excuse me, monsieur, I am the only person who saw----" "Please do not interrupt me, monsieur le docteur." "But time is of the greatest importance," said Dr. Riche, "and I can assist----"